SECS 8 Week 6: How do I want to grow old?
Old age is something blessed and a lot of us look up to that year. I started looking forward to old age when my dad told me about the average age in our family. Let me quickly gist you about that conversation. I went to my grandfather's burial who died at 110 years old, and I was surprised to see 100 years old along with his age, so I was forced to ask my dad why there were two ages on his burial flex banner. My dad told me that my grandfather's real age is 110 years old but he was baptized after he repented at the age of 10, so his baptism age which was 100 years was written alongside his real age. My dad made me understand that in my extended family, the mean age for anyone is 103 years. This got me excited, and I started to look forward to growing old. My grandfather on his 100-year-old birthday was still able to walk upright and was trying to jog alongside us the morning of his birthday. Those were beautiful memories. That said, let's begin with the challenge.
How do you want to age: healthy and energetic or limited and dependent on medication?
According to an article published in the Scientific American journal, people are expected to live up to the age of 150 in years to come, and according to the World Health Organization, we are expected to have a long year to live following human improved civilization and the ability to conquer so many diseases. It is no doubt that improved diet, education, and availability of standard health care will help make this achievable.
No one wishes to grow old, only to be dependent and limited in their activity. We all want to grow old having the energy of our youth but having the energy of our youthful days would not be possible since our DNA stop repairing itself when we reach a particular age, around 55 years. While our DNAs stop repairing themselves, we start to age leaving us susceptible to different ailments but this doesn't give us an automatic ticket to become limited and dependent. Doing the right thing from a young age actually will keep us longer and healthier so for me, I want my old age to be healthy and energetic but do not let us rule out the fact that old people are going to be taking medications to boost their immune system even when they are not sick but that doesn't mean that they are dependent on it. So I do not wish to be dependent on medications, I hope to have a beautiful old age.
What are you doing to reach the old age you long for?
The secret to living long is living healthily. When I say living healthy, it encompasses a lot of things from what we eat, to how we live our lives, work, and other factors that contribute to our lives in full. First, I have learned to eat fruits very well, and not stress my body since it is what usually experiences old age even when the mind is still sound. I also do exercises and Yoga to keep both my body and soul alive. Actually, I do intermittent fasting which has been proven to be a factor that increases the lifespan of a person.
Just like I said, asides from my food routine and the type of food I eat, I take into consideration my daily activities such as; I do not smoke, I do take alcoholic beverages, I do not Speed when driving, also I caution drivers who try to go beyond the advised speed limit to not go beyond the limit. I ensure I do not get involved in anything violent. I switch off all electrical appliances that I am not using before going to bed, and I ensure that I put them off completely when I am going out. I follow laws and ensure that anything that will endanger the precious life that I have is averted.
Are you afraid of growing old, yes or no? Justify your answer
Why will I be afraid of growing old? Currently, I still have about 4 grannies that I know my maternal grandma and grandpa, my paternal grandmother, and my step-grandmother (in those years, African men were known to marry more than 1 wife). They are all doing fine, and they always give me the feeling that old age is beautiful. My father is almost 60 but I would not classify him as old just the same way he doesn't classify himself as old. My paternal grandmother is 98 years old already, my maternal grandmother is 86 years old, and my maternal grandfather is 101 years old. None of them are hospitalized or at any home for the aged, instead, they are living healthy although they are always checked upon regularly by the doctor and given medications to boost their immune system as well as help them see clearly. It is normal for them to experience symptoms such as deteriorated eyesight but with the help of their medications, they can still see and identify us. They are always telling stories of their youth, and it is always fun listening to them whenever I go to visit them.
Do you have any experience to share with us about an older adult who is an example for you to follow?
My paternal grandmother is an example of a happy soul. She is always taking fruit extracts every day. She said that as a young lady, she loved fruits and would take fruits three times daily. She said although in Nigeria at the time she was a teenager, they weren't taught the importance of eating fruits, she had a white friend whose parents were missionaries, and she always made her take fruits regularly. In her old age, she still takes a walk around the house daily, although it can take up to 2 hours to walk around the house, she tries to do it daily. She claims that it keeps her busy instead of staying indoors all day but to me, I see it as doing morning exercise.
Old age is very beautiful and I cannot wait to get old and be as energetic as my grandparents.
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Hello dear friend, thank you very much for your entry, it is good that you are taking care of your health, it is more than necessary, because old age deserves it, no one wants to get old sick and have to be dependent on other people, it is best to remain healthy and with lots of energy.
I recommend you not to write such long paragraphs, a maximum of 7 lines is fine, so you don't saturate the publication. Have a nice day, greetings!
On the other hand, always remember to tag the #club you belong to.
Thanks a lot for the review, I will work to improve on places that need improving.
... 103 years, Woah 😲😲😲😲.
Well as you said this can be achieved by being happy, exercising, eating fruits and living healthy. Thanks for this wonderful exposition @thomisin.
I guess it is a blessing. From what I was told, that is how they often live long in the family in their generation and the previous ones. I hope it doesn't change with our genration and the ones to come.
You mean at 100 your grand father was jogging, that's so serious.
Old age is a good experience everyone look up to have.
But what determines how one's old age will be is dependent on his how his youthful age went.
To have a good old age, you have to start now to take care of yourself, eat good food and fruits, also observe exercises and others.
I enjoyed your article, you did a very detailed work.
Thank you for the invite.
He was only trying. We could see he had the will but the strength wasn't there so he walked with his staff while we did the jogging. That's true. I was telling my friend that the reason my the old people in my village live that long was because they had children who did the hard work for them in the farm, and they ate natural food that were not preserved.